Windows 10 key..

[juiseman]

Not linked to your MS account but to the MAC address of your Motherboard actually. You can change the motherboard, W10 just asks to verify account yada yada....

You can pick up W10 key and installation on a USB stick from e-bay for under 20 bucks. Legit, I can confirm at least one of the sellers....

or just make the USB installer from a spare flash drive, I just activated an old laptop with a pro key for like $2.58 off Ebay.....

 

[Vario]

Been lucky on my current Windows 7 Pro System Builder key in 2012 since I rebuilt a machine from an AMD Phenom II 965 BE and AsRock 970 Extreme 3 to an Intel 3570K and Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H, I had to call Windows tech support and have them allow me to install 7 with the same system builder key on new hardware, reason: "its the same computer box but the hardware failed so I got new parts". Ever since then, its worked with instant activation for several CPUs and a third platform swap to 8600K and Z370 Taichi. Not sure if it was flagged to allow me to install on multiple hardwares or if it was Microsoft no longer caring.

I also have a Cyberpower PC OEM Windows 7 Home key from a sticker that I removed from a friend's box when I upgraded his setup. The key has activated and worked for multiple builds I have done and is currently upgraded to a 10 with a Microsoft account I made.

 

[juiseman]

My knowledge is from the Windows 7 days so I don't know if accurate, but here goes: the computer components as seen by Windoes generate a HID, hardware ID. If this changes to a significant degree, Windows needs to reactivate. The NIC plays a big role (if not the biggest, but I don't remember the details), for some reason. Because everything is built into the motherboard these days in effect a new motherboard makes a new computer.

Again this is from the olden days, I expect it to work differently now.

This is to my knowledge still accurate. I believe its MAC address of the NIC.

 

[newtekie1]

This is to my knowledge still accurate. I believe its MAC address of the NIC.

It is not MAC address of the NIC. Windows makes a hardware ID for your computer based on all the components. If the hardware ID changes enough, it forces a re-activation. This can happen even if you never change the motherboard, and just change out enough parts.

It's not actually bound to any one piece of hardware in your PC.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Not linked to your MS account but to the MAC address of your Motherboard actually.

Sorry, but that is not correct either. The product key has absolutely nothing to do with MAC addresses.

The MAC address is assigned to network devices. While it is supposed to be unique, they are not always. And of course, they can easily be spoofed. In fact, most routers let you spoof MAC addresses.

I want to clear things up about Digital Licenses. The activation is NOT linked to your microsoft account, and activation with a digital license is not linked to your account either.

Exactly! That does not mean you can't tie it to your MS account. You can as seen here: How to link your Windows 10 product key to a Microsoft account.

It's not actually bound to any one piece of hardware in your PC.

Well, it is bound to the motherboard. As stated earlier, you can change out every other component and not need to purchase a new license. But a new mobo constitutes a new computer and thus requires a new license (if the original is an OEM).

And I note the terms of the volume licenses used by the big factory makers require the key be coded into the UEFI firmware on the motherboard. But note that ONLY applies to factory built computers - companies that make 1000s or even millions of computers every year. Home or independent builders do not have to burn that into the UEFI firmware.

 

[silkstone]

I've been switching licences around a fair bit recently with motherboard swaps, upgrades and refreshing old laptops.
I've never lost a license despite the activation troubleshooter not working. The closest I came to losing one was on a system upgrade for my daughter, but I called them up, got put thru to India, confirmed the key was valid and issued me a new one over the phone.
Pretty much all of my keys are retail, from Win 8 upgrades and such, with one volume license which was gifted. I thought i'd lost the volume license, but i recently got it working again on a completely different system.

The only licenses I had that don't work now are the Windows Insider ones I got at launch (around 3 of them), but with those, there was never an actual key and I'd feel really cheeky calling them up to get them reactivated.

 

[newtekie1]

Well, it is bound to the motherboard. As stated earlier, you can change out every other component and not need to purchase a new license. But a new mobo constitutes a new computer and thus requires a new license (if the original is an OEM).

The software EULA binds the OEM key to the motherboard legally, but that isn't how Microsoft's activation servers work, that was my point.

 

[Bill_Bright]

The software EULA binds the OEM key to the motherboard legally, but that isn't how Microsoft's activation servers work, that was my point.

Ah! Gotcha. Frankly, I think the way their servers work is a bit of a mystery. There have been times when I had to reactive just by migrating from an HD to a SSD using an image file. Other times, I've upgraded the graphics card, RAM and migrated to a SSD and activation was not required. So there seems to be some randomness to it as well.

Clearly, the legal terms dictated by the EULA (which we agree to abide by when we decide to keep using the software) are not strictly enforced by Microsoft, or by coding in the hardware or firmware. But again, they are terms we agreed to abide by - whether enforced or not.

I have never been turned down my MS when I actually had to contact them. But I do know some who have.

I relate it to red traffic lights. Just because we can get away with running them, often even when seen by law enforcement, that does not make running them legal. Nor does it mean law enforcement won't enforce the law should they decide to next time.

 

[freeagent]

Lots of great info here guys! Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it!

 

[newtekie1]

So there seems to be some randomness to it as well.

That's for sure. And I think Microsoft is just lazy with their activation servers. I mean, they still let you activate Windows 7/8 keys that have never been activated with Windows 10, even though the period to do that is long gone.

Or maybe they think it is cheaper to just be lax with their activation than to pay people to man support phones dealing with the calls. IDK.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Or maybe they think it is cheaper to just be lax with their activation than to pay people to man support phones dealing with the calls. IDK.

That may be part of it. But I also think they would rather ust let folks slide instead of having to deal with inevitable bad publicity that would follow if they actually enforced the terms of the EULA folks agreed to - even though they have every right to enforce them.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

I think as long as people don't exploit windows, you can get it cheap enough, that there shouldn't be a need to.....

But we will all be assimilated to Microsoft.... and probably without the cool laser eye deal though..... lol

 

[Bill_Bright]

But we will all be assimilated to Microsoft...

Nah! Facebook, Google or maybe Apple. MS is not the evil big brother so many make it out to be.

 

[spectatorx]

Personally i'm using only trial version of windows since windows 7. 90-days trial on single installation can be reset up to 3 times which in total gives 360 days of free windows on single installation. It comes in enterprise edition so you have more control over updates and system overall.

 

[RealNeil]

Don't shoot the messenger.

LOL!

 

[R-T-B]

Nah! Facebook, Google or maybe Apple. MS is not the evil big brother so many make it out to be.

Not so much so anymore, but they did do some shady things in the past.

I think they stopped being big enough to get away with being evil a while back, frankly.

 

[newtekie1]

That may be part of it. But I also think they would rather ust let folks slide instead of having to deal with inevitable bad publicity that would follow if they actually enforced the terms of the EULA folks agreed to - even though they have every right to enforce them.

Yeah, I can definitely see that being part of it too.

I works in our favor either way. I've moved OEM keys between computers, re-activated multiple times. Just don't be crazy about it, and it's fine. Do it too much though, and the key does gets blacklisted.

 

[Frick]

Yeah, I can definitely see that being part of it too.

I works in our favor either way. I've moved OEM keys between computers, re-activated multiple times. Just don't be crazy about it, and it's fine. Do it too much though, and the key does gets blacklisted.

That was one of the most common calls when I was (briefly) on MS tech support: locked keys people wanted opened, and they'd been activated dozens if not hundreds of times. "Did you buy the key on the Internet or is it a new computer from Ebay?" "Yes." was inevitably the answer.

Or when you had to send people who really claimed they actually bought Enterprise keys to Pro support because it wouldn't activate.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Nah! Facebook, Google or maybe Apple. MS is not the evil big brother so many make it out to be.

Not so much so anymore, but they did do some shady things in the past.

I think they stopped being big enough to get away with being evil a while back, frankly.

Not sure which side you are taking there.

If you are agreeing with me and saying MS is not the evil big brother it used to be, that is very true and I agree. MS got severely spanked and threatened to be severely spanked further by the EU and Congress if MS didn't change their ways. Plus their disastrous marketing scam... err... I mean scheme to jam W8 and its horrible "Metro" UI down our throats was a huge failure that hurt MS, but the entire "PC" industry as well. Then finally there was their initial lack of transparently about telemetry and W10 which, with the help of misinformation posted by the MS bashers and many irresponsible bloggers and members of the IT press, created confusion between "privacy" and "security". In reality, W10 is very secure and privacy concerns were blown way WAY out of proportion. But sadly, many believed and still believe the tin-foil hat wearers. Personal privacy is still a major reason many refuse to let W7 go - even though our ISPs, Google and especially our cell phone carriers are much (by magnitudes!) more invasive than MS ever was.

On the other side, f you are disagreeing with me and saying Facebook, Google and Apple are no longer evil big brothers, then I have to ask, have you seen the news in the last year or so about Facebook? How they have not only failed to protects users privacy (on a much bigger scale than anything MS did) but intentionally violated our privacy and security?

Or the news about Google and Apple violating our privacy with Alexa and Siri? Or how Apple is MUCH bigger Microsoft - thanks in part to being the ultimate exemplification of "proprietary" - one of the most "evil" words for consumers?

No need to reply. That's OT and this thread has already gone off in too many directions. Just something to think about.

 

[R-T-B]

Not sure which side you are taking there.

I don't take sides... but basically you got it down fine in the first paragraph.

 

[freeagent]

Ok, I reinstalled windows yesterday and just used my MS account, no key and I have my very own digital license for 10 pro! Crazy! It’s all nicely activated and running trouble free. I even had my old desktop that I couldn't find saved in OneDrive. I didn't know I even had one of those. It almost feels like an apple type experience now lol. Pretty neat.

Glad I took them up on that free key way back when..

 

[Bill_Bright]

Glad you got it reinstalled with no problems. Thanks for the followup.

 

[freeagent]

Not a problem.

I have been using pirated keys for soo long, I forgot I had a legitimate key. Windows 98 was the last time I had one, and only because it came with my second hand HP

Went straight to the Devils Own right after and never looked back

 

[N/A]

Literally on the main page every now and then a link sponsored by GoDeal24 appears.. scrooll down to find it. And then when activated it gets tied to the motherboard and stays activated every time.
But It could take 10 years before I need a new one. because of motherboard prices not making any sense anymore.